Athiraathram 2011:Paanjaal in Thrissur getting ready to host Athiraathram
Paanjaal, remote village in Thrissur district, is getting ready to host an ancient Vedic ritual called Athiraathram. Athiraathram is a Somayaaga in which offerings of Somarasa is made to the sacrificial fire in an Agnikundam. The ritual will last 12 days starting from April 4 to 15.
Paanjaal Getting Ready To Host Athiraathra 2011
Panjaal, a remote village in Thrissur, is going to witness an ancient Vedic ritual called Athiraathram in April 2011. Athiraathram 2011 will be hosted by the Varthathe Trust, a local trust of like-minded people in the ottappalam village. It was formed with the aim of familiarizing common man with ancient Indian scientific and philosophical knowledge, and to preserve the ancient Vedic traditions and rituals. The ritual will be conducted from April 4 – 15.
Thirty five years ago, in 1975, a Yagna ritual was performed here, partly under the sponsorship of American Universities and Helsinki University. Prof Frits Stall of California University was had shown a keen interest in the ritual, and he had stayed over a year in Panjaal to supervise the preparations for the ritual. He had studied the environmental changes during the tenure of the ritual, and later came out with a two volume book on his findings. During the performance of Athiraathra, Vedic mantras will be chanted for universal harmony and to cleanse the atmosphere.
Athiraathra is a Somayaga, and is traditionally performed by Namboodiris (Kerala Brahmins) of Kerala. The 12-day long ritual will be performed in three fireplaces (agnikundams). The main fireplace is built in the shape of a bird using over 1,000 specially designed bricks. While the fireplace is being built, priests will be chanting mantras.
This ritual has a cosmic connection. Here fire is a metaphor for sun, which is the source of energy. Whatever offered to fire is an offering to God, according to ancient texts. It is believed that such offerings can cleanse the atmosphere of negative energies. Somarasa, a juice of Somalatha and dozens of other herbs, is the major offering to the sacrificial fire. The fire is created by rubbing together two pieces of wood. The procedure is listed in the Vedic scriptures.
It is not that anyone can perform Athiraathram. Only those who had performed the Somayaga can perform this ritual. The chief priest of the ritual is called Yajaman. His wife has equal involvement in the process, and must observe strict austerities both before and after the Yagna. Other than Yajaman, a dozen Vedic scholars and experts also participate in the Yagna. It is required that mantras should be chanted with accurate intonation for the effectiveness of the yagna.
Venue for the ritual is chosen in accordance with geographic and vastu principles. The Yagnasala is positioned in such a manner that it can absorb maximum sun's energy. Paanjaal is an ideal spot for performing such rituals as it meets all the prerequisites for such ancient Vedic rituals.
The Yajaman who performs Somayaga is known as Somayaaji after the Yaagam, and after performing Athiraathram, he is known as Akkithiri or Agnihothri. After the ritual is over, the Yajamaan takes some live embers from the sacred fireplace, and he is duty-bound to feed it until his last breath.
There is a belief that towards the end of the Yagna, if a solitary eagle is spotted in the sky over the Yagnasaala, and if it rains heavily, these are the indications that the ritual was conducted in accordance the true Vedic traditions and that the gods are pleased with the Yagna. In 1975, it rained, according to those who witnessed the ritual then.
This ancient ritual has generated a lot of interest in the West. Apart from the spiritual side, this Yagna could be a potential money spinner for Kerala Tourism.
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